Abstract
Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) process is increasingly being used as a more advanced technology for biological wastewater treatment. However, due to membrane fouling, MBR system is often restricted in field application. Membrane fouling in MBR system may cause high maintenance cost, and reduction in membrane’s lifespan. Membrane fouling reduction in MBR system was investigated using ozone in the study. Ozone is being employed in wastewater treatment, and it may change microbial characteristics in MBR system by changing the water environment to more oxidative one. Experimental results of this work were analyzed with respect to various parameters, such as BOD5, CODCr, Total Nitrogen (TN), Total Phosphorus (TP), Extracellular Polymeric Substances (EPS) production, tensile strength, Sludge Volume Index (SVI), Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) photos, and permeability or effluent flow rate of membrane. MBR system applied with ozone injection in aeration tank showed high performance in removing water quality parameters such as BOD5, CODCr, TN, and TP. Especially removal of TP was remarkably enhanced from about 45% to 87% by ozone dosage. Before ozone dose, backwash was needed once in every two weeks. However after the ozone injection, backwash was not required for more than 4 months. When the MBR system was in operation for two weeks, membrane was in need of a backwash. However, permeability of the used membrane has gradually recovered to the level of backwashed state, and maintained the same permeability rate thereafter.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ahn, W. Y., Kalinichev, A. G., and Clark, M. M. (2008). “Effects of background cations on the fouling of polyethersulfone membranes by natural organic matter: Experimental and molecular modeling study.” Jour. of Membrane Science, Vol. 309,Issues 1–2, pp. 128–140.
Andrew, E. D., Clesceri, Lenore, S., Rice, Eugene, W., and Greenberg, Arnold E. (2005). 21 st standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association, Water Environment Federation.
Azami, H., Sarrafzadeh, M. H., and Mehrnia, M. R. (2011). “Fouling in membrane bioreactors with various concentrations of dead cells.” Desalination, Vol. 278,Issues 1–3, pp. 373–380.
Bae, T. H. and Tak, T. M. (2005). “Preparation of TiO2 self-assembled polymeric nanocomposite membranes and examination of their fouling mitigation effects in a membrane bioreactor system.” Jour. of Membrane Science, Vol. 266,Issues 1–2, pp. 1–5.
Boributh, S., Chanachai, A., and Jiraratananon, R. (2009). “Modification of PVDF membrane by chitosan solution for reducing protein fouling.” Jour. of Membrane Science, Vol. 342,Issues 1–2, pp. 97–104.
Chan, R. and Chen, V. (2004). “Characterization of protein fouling on membranes: opportunities and challenges.” Jour. of Membrane Science, Vol. 242,Issues 1–2, pp. 169–188.
Fallah, N., Bonakdarpour, B. Nasernejad, B., and Alavi Moghadam, M. R. (2010). “Long-term operation of submerged membrane bioreactor (MBR) for the treatment of synthetic wastewater containing styrene as Volatile Organic Compound (VOC): Effect of hydraulic retention time (HRT).” Jour. of Hazard. Material., Vol. 178,Issues 1–3, pp. 718–724.
Ji, J., Qiu, J. P., Wai, N., Wong, F. S., and Li, Y. Z. (2010). “Influent of organic and inorganic flocculants on physical-chemical properties of biomass and membrane-fouling rate.” Water Research, Vol. 44,Issue 5 pp. 1627–1635.
Kimura, K., Tanaka, I., Nishimura, S. I., Miyoshi, R., Miyoshi, T., and Watanabe, Y. (2012). “Further examination of polysaccharides causing membrane fouling in Membrane Bioreactors (MBRs): Application of lectin affinity chromatography and MALDI-TOF/MS.” Water Research, Vol. 46,Issue 17, pp. 5725–5734.
Le-Clech, P., Chen, V., and Fane. T. A. G. (2006). “Fouling in membrane bioreactors used in wastewater treatment.” Jour. of Membrane Science, Vol. 284,Issues 1–2, pp. 17–53.
Liang, S., Xiao, K., Mo, Y. H., and Huang, X. (2012). “A novel ZnO nanoparticle blended polyvinylidene fluoride membrane for antiirreversible fouling.” Jour. of Membrane Science, Vols. 394–395, pp. 184–195.
Liu, L. F., Liu, J. D., Gao, B., Yang, F.Y., and Chellam, S. (2012). “Fouling reductions in a membrane bioreactor using an intermittent electric field and cathodic membrane modified by vapor phase polymerized pyrrole.” Jour. of Membrane Science, Vols. 394–395, pp. 202–208.
Meng, F. G., Yang, F. L., Xiao, J. N., Zhang, H. M., and Gong, Z. (2006). “A new insight into membrane fouling mechanism during membrane filtration of bulking and normal sludge suspension.” Jour. of Membrane Science, Vol. 285,Issues 1–2, pp. 159–165.
Metzger, U., Le-Clech, P., Stuetz, R. M., Frimmel, F. H., and Chen, V. (2007). “Characterization of polymeric fouling in membrane bioreactors and the effect of different filtration modes.” Jour. of Membrane science, Vol. 301,Issues 1–2, pp. 180–189.
Pan, J. R., Su, Y. C., Huang, C. P., and Lee, H. C. (2010). “Effect of sludge characteristics on membrane fouling in membrane bioreactors.” Jour. of Membrane Science, Vol. 349,Issues 1–2, pp. 287–294.
Seidel, A. and Elimelech. M. (2002). “Coupling between chemical and physical interactions in Natural Organic Matter (NOM) fouling of nanofiltration membranes: Implications for fouling control.” Jour. of Membrane Science, Vol. 203,Issues 1–2, pp. 245–255.
Song, K. G., Kim, Y., and Ahn K. H. (2008). “Effect of coagulant addition on membrane fouling and nutrient removal in a submerged membrane bioreactor.” Desalination, Vol. 221, pp. 467–474.
Sun, F. Y., Wang, X. M., and Li, X. Y. (2011a). “Change in the fouling propensity of sludge in Membrane Bioreactors (MBR) in relation to the accumulation of biopolymer clusters.” Bioresource Technology, Vol. 102,Issue 7, pp. 4718–4725.
Sun, F. Y., Wang, X. M., and Li, X. Y. (2011b). “Effect of biopolymer clusters on the fouling property of sludge from a Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) and its control by ozonation.” Process Biochemistry, Vol. 46,Issue 1, pp. 162–167.
Trussell, R. S., Merlo, R. P., Hermanowicz, S. W., and Jenkins, D. (2006). “The effect of organic loading on process performance and membrane fouling in a submerged membrane bioreactor treating municipal wastewater.” Water Research, Vol. 40,Issue 14, pp. 2675–2683.
Wang, P., Wang, Z. W., Wu, Z. C., and Mai, S. H. (2011). “Fouling behavior of two membranes in a submerged membrane bioreactor for municipal wastewater treatment.” Jour. of Membrane Science, Vol. 382,Issues 1–2, pp. 60–69.
Wang, Z. W., Wu, Z. C., Yin, X., and Tian, L. M. (2008). “Membrane fouling in a submerged Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) under subcritical flux operation: Membrane foulant and gel layer characterization.” Jour. of Membrane Science, Vol. 325,Issue 1, pp. 238–244.
Yao, M., Ladewig, B., and Zhang, K. S. (2011). “Identification of the change of soluble microbial products on membrane fouling in Membrane Bioreactor (MBR).” Desalination, Vol. 278,Issues 1–3, pp. 126–131.
Yun, M. A., Yeon, K. M., Park, J. S, Lee, C. H., and Chun, J. S. “Characterization of biofilm structure and its effect on membrane permeability in MBR for dye wastewater.” Water Research, Vol. 40,Issue 1, pp. 45–52.
Zhang, G. J., Ji, S. L., Gao, X., and Liu, Z. Z. (2008). “Adsorptive fouling of extracellular polymeric substances with polymeric ultrafiltration membranes.” Jour. of Membrane Sciences, Vol. 309,Issues 1–2, pp. 28–35.
Zhang, B., Sun, B. S., Jin, M., Gong, T. S., and Gao, Z. (2008). “Extraction and analysis of extracellular polymeric substances in membrane fouling in submerged MBR.” Desalination, Vol. 227,Issues 1–3, pp. 286–294.
Zularisam, A. W., Ismail, A. F., Salim, M. R., Sakinah, M., and Hiroaki, O. (2007). “Fabrication, fouling and foulant analyses of asymmetric polysulfone (PSF) ultrafiltration membrane fouled with Natural Organic Matter (NOM) source waters.” Jour. of Membrane Science, Vol. 299,Issues 1–2, pp. 97–113.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kim, Y.S., Lee, B.H. Fouling reduction effect in MBR system by ozone injection. KSCE J Civ Eng 18, 462–469 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-014-0078-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-014-0078-1